THE DEAD DAISIES: Lookin' For Trouble (BLUES): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

John Corabi's return resulted in a return to the roots of hard rock with “Light 'Em Up,” which smelled of motor oil and sweat. The recording sessions for this album also provided an opportunity for the Dead Daisies to revisit their blues roots. Once the sessions at Sienna Studios in Nashville were complete, the quintet decided to head to the legendary FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, to record their versions of twelve classics, ten of which are featured on Lookin' For Trouble. It should be noted that the title of this album is an additional tribute to the blues of the early days, which was given many negative nicknames in its infancy, particularly “devil's music.” Hence the title, which suggests that they are looking for trouble.

At first glance, the exercise of covering classics of the genre carries all the risks of either sinking into repetition or reflecting a lack of inspiration and investment. Fortunately, the profile of the members of the Dead Daisies is immediately reassuring. These are musicians with strong personalities, for whom paying tribute does not mean copying. For those who might still have doubts, the groovy and powerful version of Muddy Waters' “I'm Ready” that opens the festivities will quickly set the record straight. Speaking of groove, it's worth noting that the presence of Sarah Tomek (Maggie Rose) behind the drums is no stranger to performances that are likely to cause more than a few back strains among the strippers in American biker bars.

The other two members of the band who light up “Lookin' For Trouble” are John Corabi and Doug Aldrich. The former confirms that he is not just a big, powerful, gravelly voice, but also a singer capable of serving the emotions of each track. His performance on the spellbinding “The Thrill Is Gone” (B.B. King) will put more than one hair system on alert. As for his guitarist sidekick, he strings together sparkling solos brimming with feeling like pearls on a string. His duels with the harmonica also give rise to unstoppable passages (“Boom Boom,” “Little Red Rooster”).

This collection is therefore a must-have for any blues fan. The version of “Black Betty” (Lead Belly) makes you forget Ram Jam's, and the version of “Walking The Dog” (Rufus Thomas) can easily compete with Aerosmith's. It's also impossible to miss the hairy interpretation of the legendary ‘Crossroads’, a song for which Robert Johnson is said to have sold his soul to the devil, or the monumental ‘Born Under A Bad Sign’ by Albert King. In short, if you're looking for an album to blast on your car stereo with the windows down to remind yourself that real music will never go out of style, Lookin' For Trouble is the best way to look for trouble for a good cause. - Official website

THE DEAD DAISIES

LOOKIN' FOR TROUBLE

SPV STEAMHAMMER

BLUES